The nose delivered suggestions of Germolene, coal, trainers, Dutch liquorice, mint humbugs, roasted chestnuts, bananas and ham ribs – but mainly freshly tarred roads and new telegraph poles (‘right up MY street’ someone said). The palate was huge, tongue-roasting and crying out for water – but we identified roasted parsnips, liquorice, sweet cinnamon, cherries and coal-dust. Water freshened the nose – maple cured bacon, Thai coconut satay, banana, peanut, cranberries and cherries. The palate was still challenging and took plenty of water, but the panel remained positive – finding ever-lasting heat, sweet smoked pecans and other lip-smacking flavours. The medium-peated version of distillery 23.